'Music was everything to Mehdi saab'

Legendary ghazal maestro Mehdi Hassan, also known as the "Shahenshah-e-Ghazal" passed away at a local hospital in Karachi on Wednesday. A tribute by ghazal singer Ustad Ghulam Ali to Mehdi Hassan, for Hindustan Times. Ghazal maestro passes away

He met me like an elder brother, warm and welcoming, and his simplicity won my heart. He was extremely compassionate, and never spoke ill about anyone. Maybe it was the music in his soul …. oopar waale ne unke gale mein aisa ras deeya tha … music was everything to him, and his goodness was an extension of it.

Films in our country were not considered films till they had Hassan Saab’s voice. Lata Mangeshkar had also called him ‘the voice of God’.

He had struggled before making it big, and he rightly deserved all the success he got. He had received so many awards, and every time he won an honour, I felt very proud. He was my inspiration, and still is.

He may have been ill for more than 12 years, but when I last met him, he was as cheerful and lively as he used to be when he was younger.

We laughed and chatted. Bahut hans khel ke baat ki (He was playful and upbeat). I always asked his children about his health.

It is difficult for me to say more because I get emotional everytime I think about what we shared... all I want to say is that it is a very big loss, but he is somebody who will live on even after his death.